By end of ceremony, Father Chuck is Bishop Thompson | VIDEO

The ordination of Bishop Charles C. Thompson at Roberts Stadium in Evansville.

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Charles C. Thompson, the fifth Bishop of Evansville, center, and Joseph E. Kurtz, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Louisville, left, react to applause during Thompson's ordination. Gerald A. Gettelfinger, the fourth Bishop of Evansville is at right.

EVANSVILLE - Charles Thompson earned more than a new title Wednesday afternoon when he was installed and ordained as the fifth bishop to serve the Catholic Diocese of Evansville. The Louisville, Ky., native also was given a new name.

Known as "Father Chuck" at home, where he's most recently served as vicar general of the Archdiocese as well as a parish pastor and school chaplain, he became Bishop Thompson in front of thousands of Catholic faithful at Roberts Stadium.

"This is not my jurisdiction, but I want to make a suggestion," said Metropolitan Archbishop of Indianapolis Daniel Buechlein. "If anyone slips and says 'Bishop Chuck,' I suggest they make a charitable contribution to the Little Sisters of the Poor."

Thousands in the stands and floor seating at Roberts Stadium laughed at Buechlein's remarks — a trend that held strong during the nearly three-hour, yet lighthearted ceremony.

Evansville's new bishop was described as charming, compassionate, humble and thoughtful. Retired Louisville Archbishop Thomas Kelly, added that Thompson is a "man of great humor.

"Well, he laughed at my jokes," Kelly said, smiling.

Thompson succeeds Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger who is retiring after 22 years of service to the diocese.

Wednesday's traditional ceremony — although at the nontraditional Roberts Stadium, as opposed to St. Benedict's Cathedral where Gettelfinger was ordained — included the Litany of the Saints, Laying on of Hands and Prayer of Ordination. The mass was televised live, and a screen was installed over the altar as cameras panned around the arena.

Once Thompson was officially ordained about an hour and a half through the ceremony, he was then anointed.

Thompson took to the lectern to speak after Holy Communion, and Evansville's new bishop promised to keep his remarks "brief."

"Brief is defined in many different ways," he said, as the crowd broke into laughter. Then Thompson charmed them again, this time to the point of applause.

"I'll assure you this," he said, "There are probably only two people here that want this finished faster than me. One is my youngest nephew, Brandon. I think he may be churched out by now. And maybe a little more than him is the guy who's got his car packed and ready to get out of town — and that's Bishop Gettelfinger."

Thompson said he's "humbled and honored" to become bishop of the Diocese of Evansville, which includes some 85,000 Catholics in 12 counties across Southwestern Indiana.

And Kelly said that though Thompson, 50, is young to take on this position, he's plenty ready. Kelly admitted Thompson to seminary many years ago, ordained him as a priest, and the two eventually lived with one another for the last three years while working at Holy Trinity parish in Louisville.

"I think they'll like him here very much," Kelly said. "He'll be a fine leader — a servant — which is what you want as a bishop."

Reception for Thompson was strong among the Catholic community, which greeted him on the Roberts Stadium concourse following the mass. First in line to meet the new bishop was Evansville resident Vera Gilbert.

"I think he's charming," said Gilbert, a parishioner at St. Anthony's. "He's a hope. I'm all for him."

Gilbert said she'd like to see Thompson fix "this school situation" — that not enough people can afford to attend Catholic schools.

Thompson has repeatedly said he has no set vision for what he'll accomplish in Evansville, and he admitted Wednesday that he'll probably make mistakes along the way while he learns a new role.

"We strive to become better — to become holier — by facing our weaknesses and challenges rather than shying away from them," he said, talking of himself and Catholics. "Despite our imperfections, we have much to celebrate in our Catholic identity."

On the feast day of Sts. Peter and Paul, Thompson thanked a long list of people for helping him along the way — his family, brother priests and ordaining bishops Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Kelly and Gettelfinger for "daring to consecrate me as a bishop."

Wearing a new ring and miter and wielding a staff acquired during ordination, Thompson finished his 10-minute remarks before returning to occupy the chair that Bishop Gettelfinger held for 22 years. He was no longer Father Chuck, but Bishop Thompson.